Community nursing placements: student learning experiences during a pandemic and beyond

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Community Health Nursing
• Healthcare Workforce Development

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted traditional community nursing placements for student nurses.
• Maintaining dynamic learning experiences is crucial for developing essential skills in community nursing.
• A future-ready community nursing workforce requires innovative educational approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore challenges in sustaining community nursing placements as effective learning environments.
• To identify opportunities for novel learning and working methods in community nursing education.
• To propose strategies for enhancing student nurses' exposure to community nursing care.

Main Methods:

• Exploration of challenges faced during the pandemic and beyond.
• Discussion of opportunities for innovative learning and working practices.
• Analysis of strategies for providing alternative learning experiences.

Main Results:

• The pandemic highlighted the need for adaptable community nursing education.
• New ways of working and learning are essential for student exposure to community care.
• Developing student insight, understanding, knowledge, and skills is key to workforce growth.

Conclusions:

• Adapting community nursing education is critical for student development.
• Innovative strategies can ensure continued learning opportunities for student nurses.
• Long-term integration of alternative learning experiences will strengthen the future community nursing workforce.